Salt Pit

       We were assigned to research the topic CIA’s Salt prison and torture methods that they use on prisoners to try and get answers out of them.  The definition of salt prison or pit is CIA interrogation center in Afghanistan.  This salt pit started to arise and become more popular after the 9/11 attack. This made the CIA very furious with terrorists and wanted to stop them.  I read three different articles, which I will explain in this blog.
The first article I read was titled, At CIA’s ‘Salt Pit’ prison, torture reigned, with little oversight this article is found on msn.com. This article explains that no one in the world really knew about these torture prisons until now. What they do to the prisoners is very inhumane. They would make the prisoners to get no sleep, no clothes, unhealthy food, cold showers, and mock executions.  The CIA will take prisoners and put them in shackles and let them listen to blaring music for around 22 hours of the day.  One of the victims of the Salt Pit, Gul Rahman, only lasted two months from when the pit opened. He was killed due to misunderstanding towards the CIA.
United States government hired two psychiatrists to come up with new torture techniques to torture the prisoners. Each of the doctors got paid around forty million dollars to complete this task.  James Mitchell and Bruce Jessen were the two doctors that were chosen to do this task for the government. They used Wikipedia and the hand book of Joseph Stalin to come up with torture tactics. They quoted to Vanity Fair in a questioning, “We are proud of the work we did for our country.”
The last article I read on was from Huffington Post, it talked about how Gul Rahman was shackled and left in the pit half naked and with little to no food. With him were four other terrorists.  The government would tell the family of the members that died that they died of natural causes or died in the interrogation. Why do we need to treat these people so poorly?

Over Abusing Power?

As we go to concerts, festivals or any public events, do you look around and what do you usually see, cops. Cops are there to protect and serve the citizens to make sure they are safe. But when does protecting people and getting involved too much? In Pittsburgh Pride Fest, Ariel Lawther is under arrested after she “assaulted” a Pittsburgh police officer.  The police officer was trying to break up a fight between Ariel and Eric Moure. Do you think that the police officers are doing their job or making it worse?

                On June 15, 2014, Ariel Lawther was at Pittsburgh Pride Fest, when she got into an argument with an anti-gay protester, Eric Moure. They were in the middle of the street, when the police officer, Souroth Chatterji, came in and tried to break up the fight. In the meantime, the police officer said that Ariel began punching him in the chest. This is the time where the police officer pushed her into an opening trying to hand cuff her. As he pushed her, he pushed her in the upper chest area and neck. Is this were police officers cross the line? Couldn't he have simply tried to ask her to stop and say he was a police officer instead of pushing her? The police officer was scared of Lawther hurting innocent people in the crowd, so he grabbed her by the hair on her head and shoved her out of the crowd. Jenna Kenny, a bystander who recorded the parts of the fight and arrest that took place, posted this video on Facebook.  As Jenna was interviewed for the news she said, “She didn't put up a fight. The only time she was throwing her hands up in the air is when he grabbed her.”

                Mayor, Bill Peduto, ensures that this case will be fair and complete investigation so that the both parties get fair treatment from Pittsburgh.  Peduto wants the city not to worry and to make sure that the city is safe and gives each party to explain their side of the story.

                Our law enforcement is supposed to protect and help serve citizens but does that give them the right to hurt the citizens in the time they try and arrest them? The police officer who made the arrest is off duty until the investigation is over and has come to justice.  I think we need to have better law enforcement rules that you should need to go through before touching or hurting the person before arresting them? Why didn't officer Chatterji try and talk to Ariel before grabbing and pushing her out of the crowd? Could this situation have been avoided by trying to settle this in a civilized manner?

                Do you think that cops are over abusing their power or just protecting citizens?  Is it necessary for them to attack citizens without trying to talk to them? In Ariel case she was just trying to protect herself and to stand up for what she believes in.  Where does the line cross for protecting and abusing?

Sources:http://www.wtae.com/news/woman-arrested-during-pittsburgh-pridefest/26510854

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2659839/Police-officer-investigated-grabbed-woman-head-punched-gay-pride-parade-woman-attacked-man-protesting-against-LGBT.html

Taking Chance

The lessons that I learned from watching this movie, taking Chance, is that people in America do show respect for our military and the bravery and courage these men and women have to face. With being in a family with an active military man, this movie hits home. While watching this movie people from all over took time to show respect as fallen military men and women are being transported.  If that was one of my family members I couldn't be more proud to be an American as people stopped what they are doing and showed respect to the fallen military troops.
Pfc. Chance Phelps was killed in action around the town of Ar Ramadi, Iraq on April 9th, 2004. Born in Dubois, Wyoming Chance was only nineteen years old when his life was taken away from him. His unit was conducting a convoy to transport assistant commander of the 1st Marine Division, General John F. Kelly, when they took heavy fire. Chance took bullets to his head which took his life, but saved many in his marine career. Chance showed many characteristics of bravery and courage. After his death Chance was promoted to Lance Corporal. In Camp Ramadi, a baseball field was constructed in Chance’s honor called Phelps Field.
Along the way as they were taking Chance home many people took the time to respect and honor his body as it was being transported home.  Many people don’t take the time to show respect to military. Just by taking a second to stop and show respect means a whole lot to the family members and the escort.  Lieutenant Colonel, Michael Strobl, native to the town of Clifton, Colorado where Chance grew up as a kid, decided to escort Chance home. Along the way Strobl experienced many acts of kindness. While boarding his first flight, the manager moved his boarding ticket from business class to first class. On that same flight, one of the flight managers gave Strobl a small cross with Jesus on it. It first he thought it was for him but as he was giving Chance’s possessions to his family he realized he was just the deliverer of the cross.   In Dubois, Wyoming on April 17th, 2004 Chance Phelps was laid to rest.  Days later the rest of Chance’s unit held a memorial service in Camp Ramadi.
While watching this movie it hit home hard for me. With having a family member in the military service at means a lot to see the respect that everyone gives the escorts and fallen members. It doesn't matter if it is the caregivers cleaning the body or random people watching at the airport, they realize that someone gave their life so they could have a free life and have no worries.  If you lose someone in the military you want the best care for your family member.  As I watched this I could think what if I had lost my uncle would they have cared and showed that much respect for him? I hope that people realize all that these men and women do for us. If we didn't have them would we have all the rights and freedom that we do?
The lessons that I learned from watching this movie, Taking Chance, is that American’s do care and show respect for our military service men and women, and how all of the service men and women show bravery and courage every day that they put on that uniform.  Do you think that you could take a few minutes of your time and show respect for our military men and women? This act of kindness is what makes a strong nation thrive.

Work Site: http://www.chancephelps.org/taking_chance.htm